Combined lighting and ignition system.



A. H. NEULAND.

COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8. 1913.

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COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPHCATION FILED JULY 8. 1913.

1,148,709. Patente Aug. 3, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH 120.,wAsHiNfl'l'mLiJv 1,148,709. Original application fi le rl September 3,

To all whom it may concern:

nnrons I-I. nnu annn, or san FRANCISCO, ontironnm, Assrenoa'ro NEULAND ann'r onrro MAG ET'OJ co rANY, or SAN rnnnoisoo, CALIFORNIA, aeoaeoarma or onnrronnm;

i COMBINED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEIVL' Be it known that I, ALroNs HQ NEULAND,

a subject of the Czar of Russia, and a resi-' A dent of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certaln new and, useful Improvements 1n Combined Lighting and Ignition Systems, of'whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to magnetos which are used in connection with internal combustion engines to generate the electric current for producing the firing spark.

The object of the invention is to produce a magneto of substantially the same size as now in general use, which is capable of producing the desired spark and current. for illumination purposes. I y

A further object of the invention is to provide means in combination with the magneto for producing a proper distribution of the current to the spark plugs and illuminating circuit.

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial Number 718,23 filed Sept. 3, 1912. i

It is the present tendency in automobile practice to illuminate the lights on the car with electricity, and heretofore, it has been necessary to install a separate generator or battery forthis purpose. It is also desirable to produce a spark in the engine cyl ,formgof the invention which. I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanymg and form ng part ofthe present inven- ..tion. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims succeeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the showing made by said drawings and description, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 19 15.

1912, Serial No. 718,237. niviaed'ana this application filed m 8, 7 1913. Serial No 777,835.

' T ma'y adopt many variations within the scope of my inventlon as set forth in said claims; I v

Referrlng to sald drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection taken through the magneto. Fig. 2.is a transverse section taken on the line a-a. Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional View taken on the line bb F g. 1. Figfl is an end view of the dist'rlbuter. Fig. 5 is a sideview of the distributer. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic repre- 3 SGIltittlOIl' of one form of the electric circuits connecting the magneto with the sparking and lighting circuits. p

The magneto consists of a suitable frame 52in which is secured the permanent magnet 3. This magnet is formed of a plurality of lammated plates 4 securely held together and to the frame by the bolts 5. The plates t are preferably circular in form, as shown in Fig. Q and are formed with arms or polepieces 6" and 7' of opp osite polarity. The pole-p eces are divided into two sections 6"6 and 7*7 by the groove or channel 8, but the two sections 6 -6 are of one polarityand the sections 77 are of the oppos te polarity. The inner faces of the pole-pleces are provided with teeth 16 19-17 1? f arranged parallel to each other and extending in the direction of the length of the magnet. The teeth on each section are equally spaced apart from each other, and the two adjacent teeth on the sections of one pole-piece are spaced apart a distance equal to one-half or an odd multiple"' o f one half the spacing of the teeth on each section. rThat is, the adjacent teeth lfi lfi or 17 17 b have a pitch ofone-half or anoddmultiple of one-half the pitch of the teeth 16 or 16 or17 or 17".

Mounted in the frame and rotatable between the pole-pieces is a core 12 which is formed of laminations securely held together. The core is provided with teeth 13 which are spaced apart the same as the teeth on the sections of the pole-pieces. .It is evident that as the core revolves, the teeth thereoncoincide alternately with theteeth .on sections 16 17 and 16 17, producing .a flux first fromlG to 17 and then from ,16"='to 17". Since the core serves to shift the passage of the magnetic flux alternately through the sections 67 and 6 7 I shall hereinafter refer to it as a flux valve. It is evident that a rotation of the flux valve through a distanceequal to one-half the spacing of the teeth will cause a shifting of the lines of force.

Arranged in the channels or grooves 8 is a coil or winding 14 in which the current is induced, due to the shifting of the lines of force passing therethrough. Since each reversal of the magnetism through the coil induces an electromotive impulse in the coil, it is evident that a large number of impulses are produced for each revolution of the fiux valve, the number of impulses being twice the number of teeth on the valve. On account of the large number of impulses generated per revolution, this form of magneto is particularly applicable for use in connection with an ignition and lighting system.

The magneto illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be used in connection With a four cylinder, four cycle engine, but it is evident that the distributer can be altered to conform to any design of engine. Since the duration of the spark used for igniting the explosive charge is of short duration, it is necessary to employ only a small number of the impulses generated in the coil for sparking purposes, allowing the greater number of such impulses to be used for other purposes, such as the illumination of head-lights or the operation of electric horns and whistles.

The core or flux valve is mounted on the shaft 21 which is driven by the engine shaft 22 through the gears 2824 which are of such size that the shaft 21 makes two revolutions for each revolution of the engine shaft. The gear 24 is fixed to the sleeve 25 which is mounted for independent rotation on the shaft 21. The sleeve 25 is provided on its outer end with a single tooth ratchet 26 which engages a similar ratchet on the sleeve 27, which is movable longitudinally of the shaft but is splined thereto, so that it rotates with the shaft. The sleeve 27 is held against the sleeve 25 by the spring 29 surrounding the shaft. As the engine shaft revolves, the flux valve is also revolved, through the agency of the clutch, but when the engine shaft is stationary, the flux valve shaft may be rotated in the proper direction by the crank or handle 30, thereby allowing a current to be produced when the engine is at rest. This rotation does not disturb the relation between the position of the distributer and the position of the pistons in the engine, so that when the engine starts the timing of the spark is correct.

Arranged between the handle 30 and the valve shaft is a clutch which becomes disengaged when the engine starts, thereby allowing the handle to remain at rest. The clutch consists of the toothed member 51 formed on the sleeve loosely mounted on the valve shaft and to which sleeve the handle is attached. Arranged on the valve shaft is a similar toothed member Bearing against the sleeve is a spring 5e which operates to normally hold the toothed members apart. lVhen it is desired to produce a spark with the engine at rest, the sleeve is pushed in, compressing the spring and bringing the two parts of the clutch into mesh and the handle is rotated. The clutch on the opposite end of the shaft allows the shaft to be rotated by disengaging it from the engine shaft.

Loosely mounted on the sleeve 25 is the fiber drum 31 of the distributer. This drum is rotated at the proper speed by the connected gears mounted on the stub shaft 34. Gear 32 meshes with a gear 35 formed on the end of the sleeve 25, and gear 33 meshes with a gear 36 on the drum. Embedded in the circumferential face of the drum is a metal ring 37 having an offset tongue or section 38, which comes into contact alternately with the brushes ll4i2- 43%4, which are connected to the respective spark plugs of the four cylinder engine. Bearing against the continuous ring 37 is a brush 45 which is connected to one end of the secondary or high tension winding 76 of the transformer or coil in the sparking circuit; the other end of the transformer winding being grounded on the engine.

In order that the current may be directed to the sparking circuit at the proper intervals and to the lighting circuit at other times, a contactor or switch operated by the rotating shaft is necessary. Arranged on the valve shaft is a disk it having a depression 4L7 formed in the circumferential face thereof. hflountedon the casing or cap l8 attached to the frame of the magneto is a spring held. contaetor arm 49 bearing a roller engaging the face of the disk. It is evident that as the disk revolves, the roller moves into and out of the depression 47, causing a movement of the free end of the arm 4-9. Secured to the free end of the arm is a sleeve 56 in which are arranged at opposite ends, the contact points 5758. Mounted on the casing 48 and insulated therefrom and from each other are terminals 6162 of the sparking and lighting circuits respectively. These terminals are arranged adjacent the contact points 5758 so that when the roller is riding over the face of the disk, the point 58 is in contact with. terminal (32 closing the lighting circuit and opening the spark circuit, and when the roller enters the depression in the disk, the point 57 is in contact with terminal 61, closing the sparking circuit and opening the lighting circuit. 'The interruption of the lighting circuit is so short, that the effect thereof is not visible at the lamps 63.

In order that no sparking may occur at these contacts as the circuits are opened and closed, I arrange the contact points so that the circuit to be .made is established before the existing circuit is broken. This is accomplished by making the contact points 5758 slidable Within the sleeve 56 and holding them pressed apart by thespring 64:. That point which is in circuit is pressed into thesleeve by the contacting terminal, to such an extent, that as the sleeve moves away from said terminal, the point does not reach the end of the sleeve and be separated from the terminal until the other terminal and contact point are in contact.

Attached to the casing 48 at a suitable place is a rocker arm 65 to which is attached a lever or arm for rotating the casing when it is desired to advance or retard the spark. Switches 66 and 67 are provided in the spark circuit and lighting circuit respectively, so that either one may be disconnected when desired.

One end of the coil 14: is connected to the contactor arm 49 and the other end is connected with the lighting circuit and with the low tension side of the sparking circuit. In Fig. 6 I have illustrated one of the possible arrangements of conductors, but this may be varied as desired, and I do not desire to limit myself to any particular arrangement of circuits.

I claim: I

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a magneto, an ignition circuit inductively connected to the generating coil of said magneto, a lighting circuit directly connected to said generating coil, and means driven by the engine for opening and closing said lighting circuit. 7

2. In a power propelled vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a magneto driven thereby, an ignition circuit for said engine inductively connected to the generating coil of said magneto, electric lights on said vehicle, a circuit including said lights directly connected to said generating coil, and means for alternately diverting the power generated in said coil to said ignition and lighting circuits.

8. The combination with an internal com bustion engine and electric lights, of a magneto adapted to be driven by said engine, an ignition circuit for said engine inductively connected to the generating coil of said magneto, a circuit including said lights di rectly connected to said generating coil, and means operative by the rotation of the rotating part of the magneto for alternately diverting the power generated to said ignition and lighting circuits.

I. In a power propelled vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a magneto driven thereby having a generating coil, a lighting ,ed to said coil, a secondary transformer winding, an ignition circuit directly connected to said secondary Winding, and means between the generating coil and the lighting and primary Winding circuits for alternately diverting the power generated to said circuits,

5. In a power propelled vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a magneto connected thereto adapted .to generate a large number of impulses per revolution, a two contact low tension diverter included in circuit with the generating coil of the magneto, a lighting circuit connected at one end to the generating coil, andatthe other end to one outer contact of the diverter, a step up transformer having its primary in circuit between one end of the generating coil and the other outer contact of the diverter, and an ignition circuit including the secondary of the transformer, said diverter serving to time the ignition spark and to convey the greater part of the generated impulses to the lighting circuit.

6. In a power propelled vehicle, an internal combustion engine, a magneto, having a generating coil, arranged to be driven by said engine, a movable contact connected to one end of said coil, contacts arranged at opposite sides of said movable contact ar-- ranged to be alternately engaged thereby, a lighting circuit bridged across one of said contacts, and the other end of the generating coil, a circuit including the primary winding of a transformer bridged across the other contact and the other end of the generating coil, and an ignition circuit including the secondary winding of said transformer.

7. In a power propelled vehicle, the combination with an internal combustion engine, of a generator constructed to produce a large number of impulses per revolution, a transformer having its primary winding connected to said generator and having its secondary winding in the ignition circuit, the ignition circuit, a lighting circuit arranged to be directly connected to said generator, and means for alternately connecting the lighting circuit and the transformer primary winding with said generator.

8. The combination with a magneto adapted to produce a large number of impulses per revolution, of ignition and lighting circuits, and means for distributing alternately a relatively large number of consecutive impulses to the lighting circuit and a relatively smaller number of impulses to the ignition circuit.

9. The combination of a magneto adapted to produce a large number of impulses per revolution, of an ignition circuit, a lighting circuit directly connected to the generating coil of the magneto, and means for distributing a series of consecutive impulses of each revolution to the lighting circuit and the remainder of said impulses to the ignition circuit.

10. The combination With an internal combustion engine, of a magneto, adapted to produce a large number of impulses per revolution, an ignition circuit inductively connected to the generating coil of sald magneto, a llghtlng circuit directly connected to said enerating coil, and means for alternately cirecting a minor portion of said impulses to the ignition circuit and the major portion of said impulses to the lighting circuit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 2nd day of July 1913.

ALFONS H. NEULAND.

In presence of- P. S. PIDWELL, H. G. PRos'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

